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8 Bronzing Hacks for Women With Dark Skin

These essential products and bronzing techniques give complexions of all colors that next-level glow
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All-Over Glow
No matter how rich your skin tone, the allure of an all-over luminous complexion is universal. Exhibit A: The radiant Gabrielle Union.

"For Gabrielle's glow, I recommend mixing a liquid bronzer with your regular foundation and applying it with a BeautyBlender sponge, $15.95, for a flawless finish," says celebrity makeup artist Daniel Chinchilla. "The Chanel Sheer Illuminating Fluid, $48, works amazing for this." (Fair warning: This technique produces major shine, so Chinchilla doesn't recommend it for oily skin).

For even more glow, dust shimmery powder across your chest and shoulders with a large powder brush. You can use the same powder as an eye shadow to bring extra light to the face. Try Lorac Tantalizer Baked Bronzer, $33.

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Brightened Up
Bronzer isn't always used to darken the skin; sometimes it creates a warmer, brighter effect.

"If you want to bring warmth to dark complexions that are dull or ashy, use a foundation that has red or orange undertones," says Alejandro Falcon, Artistic Director and National Educator for Osmosis Colour Cosmetics.

Select a bronzer color that plays up the undertones already in your skin, Falcon suggests. "Orange, red, plum, burgundy or wine-colored bronzers brightens darker skin beautifully," he says. Here, Lupita Nyong'o is wearing a rich orange tone to bring out lightness and warmth from her complexion. To get Lupita's fresh face, try Guerlain Terracotta Bronzing Powder, $53.

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Chiseled Cheekbones
For model-like angles, take a cue from today's reigning cheekbone queen, Zendaya. "A warm bronzer was used right under her cheekbones to accentuate them," says Chinchilla. Heighten the effect by "brushing a golden highlighter directly onto the cheekbones."

Pair a powder bronzer and sheer golden highlighter -- like Make Up For Ever Pro Sculpting Golden Duo in Golden, $39 -- to copy Zendaya's look.

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Age-Defying Sheen
Want skin that glows as if the past decade never happened? That level of radiance requires one essential ingredient: shimmer.

"A shimmery bronzer can brighten the face and impart a youthful, luminous glow," explains celebrity makeup artist Vinnetta Scrivo of NYC's Eva Scrivo salons. "Shimmer powder is best applied using large sweeping movements with a big powder brush in areas that you want to highlight: top of the cheekbone, brow bone, top of the nose and in front of the chin."

Laura Mercier Shimmer Bloc in Golden Mosaic, $42, complements caramel skintones, says Scrivo (think: J.Lo). If you have darker skin, choose a shade with pink or peach undertones, like Laura Mercier Shimmer Bloc in Pink Mosaic.

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Natural Contour
Though the contouring you see on Instagram may seem severe, you can also use this technique to play up your features in a natural way.

Dark-complected women typically have different tones throughout their skin, and these shades tend to be lighter toward the center of the face, explains Chinchilla. Framing the face with a matte bronzer mimics the skin's natural gradient.

To achieve a flattering contour like Tyra Banks', use a matte bronzer, such as Iman Sheer Finish Bronzing Powder in Clay, $16. Apply it with a tapered powder brush, like Sigma F25 Tapered Face Brush, $33. "Bronzer around the forehead gives the illusion of a smaller forehead," says Chinchilla. "Bronzer was also applied under the cheekbones for definition and to warm up the skin."

Finish by balancing out the dark colors with a highlighter two to three shades lighter than your natural skin tone. Sweep a product like IllumiNaughty Highlighting Powder, $24, on top of the brow bone, down the center of the nose, above the cheekbones and in the center of the Cupid's bow.

BY AMANDA MONTELL | MAY 4, 2015 | SHARES
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